iPhone 12 & iPhone 14 Plus share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 14 Plus rather than the iPhone 12.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 14 Plus?
- The iPhone 14 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for a more immersive viewing experience, while the iPhone 12 has a smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
- iPhone 14 Plus features the A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU for smoother multitasking and stronger graphics performance in demanding apps, whereas the iPhone 12 uses the older A14 Bionic chip with a 4-core GPU.
- It includes a 4325 mAh battery for up to 26 hours of video playback and extended usage during travel, while the iPhone 12 has a smaller 2815 mAh battery lasting up to 17 hours.
- The iPhone 14 Plus has a dual 12 MP rear camera system enhanced with the Photonic Engine for brighter and clearer low-light photos, whereas the iPhone 12 has a dual 12 MP system without the Photonic Engine.
- iPhone 14 Plus comes with a 12 MP front camera with autofocus for sharper selfies and group shots at varying distances, while the iPhone 12 has a 12 MP front camera with fixed focus.
- It supports Action Mode for smoother video stabilization during fast motion recording, whereas the iPhone 12 does not include Action Mode.
- The iPhone 14 Plus features Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite for added safety during car accidents and when outside cellular coverage, while the iPhone 12 does not support these emergency features.
- iPhone 14 Plus has Bluetooth 5.3 and a Qualcomm X65 modem for more efficient 5G connectivity and lower power consumption, compared to the iPhone 12 which has Bluetooth 5.0 and the older Qualcomm X55 modem.
Maybe the iPhone 12 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 14 Plus. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone 12 |
| Display Size | 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2778 × 1284 pixels (~458 ppi) | 2532 × 1170 pixels (~460 ppi) |
| Typical Brightness | 800 nits | 625 nits |
| Processor | A15 Bionic (5-core GPU) | A14 Bionic (4-core GPU) |
| RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery Capacity | ~4325 mAh | ~2815 mAh |
| Video Playback | Up to 26 hours | Up to 17 hours |
| Weight | 203 g | 164 g |
| Dimensions | 160.8 × 78.1 × 7.8 mm | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm |
| Front Camera | 12 MP with autofocus | 12 MP fixed focus |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12 MP with Photonic Engine, Cinematic Mode, Action Mode | Dual 12 MP without those features |
| Connectivity | 5G modem X65, Bluetooth 5.3 | 5G modem X55, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Safety Features | Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via Satellite | Not available |
| SIM Support | Dual eSIM (US) + nano-SIM/eSIM in other regions | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Charging | MagSafe + Qi + Qi2 | MagSafe + Qi |
| Price | Check iPhone 14 Plus Price | Check iPhone 12 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Display Technology: Both iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 use Super Retina XDR OLED panels, delivering deep blacks and high contrast for immersive visuals.
- HDR Support: Both models support HDR10 and Dolby Vision, ensuring vivid colors and cinematic-quality playback for supported videos.
- Screen Refresh Rate: Each model uses a 60 Hz refresh rate, providing a consistent but standard scrolling and gaming experience compared to ProMotion displays.
- True Tone: Both include True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts white balance to match ambient lighting for more natural viewing.
- Wide Color (P3): Each display supports the P3 wide color gamut, giving users more accurate and vibrant color reproduction.
- Contrast Ratio: Both share a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, allowing dark scenes to appear truly black and bright elements to pop.
- Water Resistance: Both phones are rated IP68, meaning they can withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes.
- Rear Camera Resolution: Each has a dual 12 MP system with wide and ultra-wide lenses, suitable for standard and expansive photography.
- Night Mode: Both support Night Mode on all cameras, enabling low-light photos with greater clarity and reduced noise.
- Deep Fusion: Each phone uses Deep Fusion computational photography for improved detail and texture in medium to low-light shots.
- Smart HDR: Both devices utilize Smart HDR technology, intelligently balancing highlights and shadows for more realistic images.
- Optical Zoom Range: Both support 2x optical zoom out, letting users capture wide-angle shots without digital loss.
- Digital Zoom Range: Each allows digital zoom up to 5x, letting users get closer to subjects though with some quality trade-offs.
- Video Recording Resolution: Both can record video in up to 4K at 60fps, providing professional-grade video capture.
- Slow Motion Video: Each supports 1080p slow-motion video at 120fps or 240fps for smooth action shots.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 14 Plus | iPhone 12 |
| Display Technology | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| HDR Support | HDR10, Dolby Vision | HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| True Tone | Supported | Supported |
| Wide Color (P3) | Supported | Supported |
| Contrast Ratio | 2,000,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min) | IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min) |
| Rear Camera Resolution | 12 MP (wide + ultra-wide) | 12 MP (wide + ultra-wide) |
| Night Mode | Available on all cameras | Available on all cameras |
| Deep Fusion | Supported | Supported |
| Smart HDR | Smart HDR 4 | Smart HDR 3 |
| Optical Zoom Range | 2x | 2x |
| Digital Zoom Range | Up to 5x | Up to 5x |
| Video Recording Resolution | Up to 4K at 60fps | Up to 4K at 60fps |
| Slow Motion Video | 1080p at 120/240fps | 1080p at 120/240fps |
| Front Camera Resolution | 12 MP TrueDepth Camera | 12 MP TrueDepth Camera |
| Face ID | Supported | Supported |
| MagSafe | Supported | Supported |
| Price | Check iPhone 14 Plus Price | Check iPhone 12 Price |
FAQ
Does the iPhone 14 Plus have a bigger screen than the iPhone 12? Is the display brightness different between iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12? Do both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 use OLED displays? Which phone has better performance, iPhone 14 Plus or iPhone 12? Is the battery life better on the iPhone 14 Plus compared to the iPhone 12? Do both models support 5G connectivity? Are the cameras the same on iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12? Does the iPhone 14 Plus take better selfies than the iPhone 12? Do both iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 support MagSafe? What safety features are exclusive to the iPhone 14 Plus? Do both phones support wireless charging? Is there a difference in storage options between the two models? Do both phones have the same water resistance rating? Do both phones support Face ID? Which phone is heavier, iPhone 14 Plus or iPhone 12? |
